Crane with portable boom



Sept. 12, 1950 B, M, MA1-HMS 2,521,861

` CRANE WITH PORTABLE BOOM Filed March 22, 1949 s sheets-smet lATTOe/ve' Ys.

SePt- 12, 1950 B. M. MATHlAs 2,521,861

CRANE WITH LPORTABLE Boom Filed March 22, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Ezra/v M. MATH/As,

A TTOB/VEYS.

Sept i2, 1950 B. M. MATHlAs 2,521,861

CRANE WITH PORTABLE BOOM Filed March 22, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 O mmm Nilq 1&5 X m LL INVENTOR. BEETON M. MATH/46,

BY )XW/EMM @wia/am A 7' roe/v5 YS.

Patented Sept. 12, 1950L v UNITED.. STATES 'CRANE-WITH 1 oRtirAB1cnnBOOM Y Berton M. Mathias, Monte;Vista, aColo.

'ApplicationMarch 22, 194 9,Seri1No.82,898

This'invention relates to "powercranes and sim- "ilardevices, 'andl moreAparticularly tofa power crane'having av foldableboom which can Ibe-reduced in length for convenience in transportation of' thecrane,Vand'canbe `quickly rand reasily` extended for use. Y l g It isamong theobjects `of the invention to provide/an improved Vpower cranehavi-ng afoldable ``boom vwhich can be quickly and easily folded `at one V*orAmore `locations along its lengthto reduce l the length'of the boomformore'con'venient trans- 'portationY ofthe 4craneirom place-to-place,and "which may also have a folda'ble toweror superstructure `which maybe yquickly'arldfeasily Alowered for transportationA of the crane,so'that 4thefolding-and Aunfolding meansfarelsimple and dur?y able `inconstruction, economical tof-manufacture and install, and provides, whenthesboom isfextended, a `boom of equal-strength -toa non-fold- `ableboom of the Ysamegeneral dimensions.

Other objects and advantageswill become-ap- `#parent from aconsideration -of `thefollowing -de- `scription and the appended'claimsin conjunction `with the accompanying drawings,- wherein:

=`Figure l is Iaside-elevation ofva power-cr-ane f-'ihaving-afoldab1e-boom and foldable superstructure illustrative -of the invention, withthe boom l:in extended condition,and the superstructure raised; I L

Figure 2 isa View similar to `'Figure 1-1withthe boom folded y and .thesuperstructurelowered Figure 3 is a transVerse-cross-section onI anenlargedscale on the line 3-3 -ofFigure l;

"Figure .4 is-a `longitudinal cross-sectionhf va 'fragmentaryfpor-tionofvLthe boom and fboom-told- Y, ing means on itheline 4-44 ;of Figure;.Y il

i Figure 5 a rear Y elevation -of ythe Acrane illusi trated lin Figure1- =with flthe crane r superstructure:`

ciolaims; (c1. .21a-144) Figure 7 iss-a `transverse cross-section -fonan enlarged scale Aof a)'fragrrientary portionof l:the

cable drumsl 2-andv lla ldrivinglyfconnected -to the. poWer-plantandoperatedL lbythe' `usual` manual With continued-reference"to-the-drawingsfthe i 'y cranelhasea 'bodydl-Whiehf'rnavbe of conventionalconstruction,-housing apoWer-plant ll l ,and

controils; not Aillust-rated.v Th'e 'body' Ll 0 is -pivotally suitableframe supported onaground-engaging otherv1-facilities#:for Y"theoperator-of lthe crane. lThe elongatedscemi-generally indicated atVlilyis pivotally connected. at one Aend to Athe-*cranebody -l at thefront edgelof-the bottom of the body by outer end,-a pair-of.oppositely-'disposedsheaves *20 overwhich pass rthe cable-2 l1*whiche-raise-A and lowerethe-outenend-of `tliegboom.` `r Ehe Vcable-2l-may'be a continuous cable having its endswound f ffFrom thesedrurnsithetwo parts of- -the'ablef--pass upwardly andover respectivesheavesf-Z2carried y on Ithe-top ofthe superstructure; vgenerally-indifonrespective cable drums inthe-crane body-fl0.

McatedatN 26. Tromfthe -sheavesif thecable por- `tions pass respectivelyover the sheaves 20 at the outer end of thevboomandthen extendrearwardly :toward the,l sup erstriucture wheres they 1pass .overrespectiveisheaves carried .by vrespective clevises extendingyforwardly. :tronic-the. super--l .structure-carried.shaft 2.6 `on whichthe sheaves .,122 are;inountedcandirom .the sheaves. 24 the .centerportion ofthe cableextends forwardlyl and .passes overa sheave21;.carried-bya.clevisaa I,con-

nectedfto a shafti'asecured lita the .front :end :of

uitheboom,vwhiclrshaft also carries Vthe sheaves 2|] .and a, crownsheave A`zlifwllich is preferably-located Y at 'the lcenter offtheL,width zof-fthe lboom. 1 A load cable 3 l fextends Y trom a Winding tdrum;not :illus- A secured Yto the boomrat a locationfadjacent theAand,tlflence over the crownlpulley 39, aroundca suitable block, .notillustrated, ,and .has its end 'crownpullem as indicated at'33. l

Injthe arrangement' illustrated, 'the' 'boom I 8,

is provided v`in three; separate sections including.

-twoend-sections-M a'ndj35, and*` a center `section Yi2?.connectedtogetherlby web bracing exten- A:arsenaal and rearwardlyuntil it overlies, and issuperimposed upon the center section 36 of theboom.

A shaft 55 is transversely journaled in the outer-end frame 56 of theinner-boom section 35, and gears l xed on this shaft mesh respectivelywith the gear sectors 43 secured to the adjacent end of the boom-centersection 36. In

, addition to being secured to the end frame 4i) of upper side of thesection, that is, the side of the y section opposite the lugs.

A pair of gear sectors 43 is secured .to the end.

frame 46 of the boom center section 36at the end of the section adjacentthefcranebody Il) and these sector gears extend above the boom centersection and outwardly from" the center' section of the boom to overliethe adiacenttend portion of the boom end` section which is pivotally,connected at its end Opposite the center section lSii "to the cranebodyV l0.

The end section 35 of thevboorn also comprises lfour .longitudinaliangle ironsd 44 connected together by diagonal web braces l5 whichextend upper and lowerangle irons 44l of the end section 35 ofthe boomconverge toward each other and enter a box structure 46 at the end ofthe boom connected to the cranebody. This box section f lii maybe formedof` suitable plates welded to- ;gether, and carries the lugs byrneans ofwhich v `the correspondinghend of the boom end section 35 ispivotallyconnected to the bottom, front lend of the cranebody. As thispivotal connection be entirely conventional, it has not beenillustrated, in detail. l

w yThe outer-end section`34 ofthe-boom also comprises four longitudinalangle irons 4l vwhich are interconnected by` diagonal web bracing 48extending along the four sides of the section and converge toward theirouter ends to `Va box structure 49 in which are mounted suitablebearings for -the sheave shaft 29, At its end adjacent the centersection 36 of the boom, theendsection-' 34 has a square lend frame 50fromwhich extends y .25 along the four sides of theiboom section.`Beyond a location spaced from the center section 36, the

Iapertured lugs 59,', the apertures of which register withapertures inthe lugs42 on the lowerside of the boom center section 36 to receive Aapivot pin 5l which pivotally connects the. boom outerend section 34 andcenter section 36 at their adjoining ends and at the lower side'of theboom.

- Two semi-circular gear sectors 52 areY secured 'tothe end frame 50 of.the :boom outerY section Sil at respectivelycpposite sides of the boom,and vextend upwardly from the outer end section and voutwardly from theend section 34 over the adja- 1 cent portion of the center section-36.The centers 'Y of these` gear sectors are substantially concentriccorners of the gearjsectors to the corresponding longitudinal angleirons of the boom end section.

Gears 54 are iixed on shaft il and mesh respectively with .thesectorgears 52 to rotate the lsector gears/about the axis of'pivot pin 5l.`

'.wnenfthe boom is in the extended cendraan,"i1 `11;1strateu insigur-eran@ the shaft ai fis rc'tated'in'a clockwise directiornthe gearsec- 'g Ytors EZ-wiii be rotated in a direction to fold the outer-endsection 34 of the boom downwardly the boom-center section, the gearsectors 43 may be reinforced by diagonal. braces l58 extending from the'outer-corners' ofthe'gear sectors re- Ylugs 6B located at respectivelyopposite sides of the boom, and the end section 35 is provided withapertured lugs 6I which are disposed at the inner sides of respectivelugs 50 with their apertures in alignment with the apertures of the lugs6i), and ashaft 52 extends through the lugs 6E) and 6l and through vthegear sectors 43 substantially concentric with the arcuate curvature ofthese gear sectors. l

Asis particularly` A'illustrated in Figures l and 3, the shaft 55 islocated at the vlower side, and the vshaft 62 is located at the upperside of the boom.

A chain sprocket 63 is xed on the shaft 55, and a chain 64 extendsaround the sprocket 63 and around a sprocket 65 mounted on the shaft 66by means of which the boom is pivotally 1connected to the crane body.The sprocket 65 is driven from the crane power plant by suitable meansand under suitable manual control,y not illustrated. Y f

When the boom is .in the extendedpcsition, illustrated in Figure l, andthe shaft 551s rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the gearsectors 43 will be rotated to foldthe centersectionV 36 of the boomupwardly and rearwardly to overlie the boom-end section 3 5.

A right-angle bearing bracket S1 is `journaled j on shaft 55 outside ofthe chain sprocket 63, and

69 secured on shaft 82 at the outer sideof one of the gear sectors 43.Abeveled gear 'l0 is secured on shaft `55 outside of the bracket 67, anda beveled gearr 'Il is secured'on shaft 62 outsidel of the bearingbracket 68. A connecting shaft 'I2 extends through the bearing brackets67 and 68, and has, onA its opposite ends, beveled gears i3 and 'i4meshing respectively with the beveled gears 'Hl and 1I, so that when thesprocket 63 is rotated by its power connection with the power plant ofthe crane, thesprocket 69 on shaft 62 will be simultaneouslyrotated,l.,but in the opposite direction.` A chain Asprockei'f'l issecuredA on shaft 4I at the outer end of the center section 36 of' theboom, and a link chain'lt` extends around the sprockets 69 and 15, sothat the shaft 4| yand the gears 54 will Vbe driven whenever the-shaft55 is driven from the power plant Vof the crane.

With this arrangement,` as the center section 36 oi the boom is movedupwardly and rearwardly relative to theinner-end section 35, theouterend section 34 will be simultaneously moved downwardly relative tothe center section 36,' so that when the `sector gears -743 and 52 havebeen rotatedA through one-half' of a revolution, the three sections ofthe boom will be superimposed, one upon the other, as illustrated inFigure 2. rAfter the' three sections of-the boom have been brought tothe position illustrated in Figure v2, the outer-end section may beconnected near its I"direction"from lthe Vv'fc'i'lding direction of'thesev shafts,-so that the center section 36 of the boom is movedupwardly and forwardly relative to the".`A`

inner-end section 35, and the outer-end section 34 is moved forwardlyrelative to the center section 36. When the three boom sections havebeen brought to an aligned, end-to-end relationship, they are releasablysecured in this position :by suitable bolts 'i8 inserted throughapertured lugs 19 carried by the center section 36 at respectivelyopposite ends thereof and overlying the adjacent ends of the endsections, the lugs overlying the outer-end section being at the upperside of the boom, and those overlying the innerend section being at thelower side of the boom, as is particularly illustrated in Figure 1.

The superstructure 23 is generally pyramidal in shape, and is pivotallysecured at its rear, lower edge to the rear, upper edge of the cranebody I'by apertured lugs 86 projecting outwardly in mutually alignedrelationship from the superstructure and the crane body, and a shaft 8lextending through these lugs along the upper, rearward edge of the crankbody. Semi-circular gear sectors 32 are secured to the superstructureand project rearwardly thereof with their centers of curvaturesubstantially concentric with the shaft 8 I.

A shaft 83 is journaled inthe ycrane body immediately below the sectorgears 82 and carries gears 84 meshing respectively with the sector gears82, and a chain sprocket 85. A drive shaft 86 is journaled in the cranebody below the shaft 83 and carries a chain sprocket 81 and a link chain88 extends around the sprockets 85 and 81 to drive the shaft 83 andgears 84.

When the superstructure is in its raised position, as illustrated inFigure l, and shaft 33 is driven in a counter-clockwise direction, thesector gears 82 will be rotated to fold the superstructure rearwardlyand downwardly from the raised position illustrated in Figure 1, to thelowered position illustrated in Figure 2, in which the rear side of thesuperstructure, when in raised position, is superimposed upon the rearend of the crane body l0. y The boom-supporting cable 2| may be removedentirely, or may be loosened and tightened as the boomis folded .andunfolded, and the superstructure is lowered and raised, so as not tointerfere with the folding and unfolding movements of the boom and theraising and lowering movements of the superstructure.

When the superstructure 23 is in raised position, it may be releasablylocked in that position by suitable means, such as the apertured platesS extending from the upper portion of the crane housing to the lowerhousing of the superstructure near the forward end of the crane housing,and the rivets 9| and bolts 92 securing these plates to the cranehousing and superstructure respectively.

The invention may be embodied in other specie forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated bythe 'rappended:fclaimsf'rather rlthan fibyftheifforegong v"description, and falli-fchaln'fges "which "comefxwithin #the :meaningand :range of .equivalency -ffof-v :the

claims are, ftherefore, intended to :be2 embraced 'therein. l f

getner-at their `-adjoining ends, :poweroperated means carried by suchsections at; their adjoi-ning ends to move said sections relative toeach other between a folded position in which they are relativelysuperposed and an extended position in which they are in end-to-endrelationship,

and means carried by said boom sections at their adjoining ends forreleasably locking said sections together. in end-to-end relationship,said power-operated means comprising a pair of semicircular gear sectorsXed on one of said sections, a transverse shaft journaled in the otherof said sections, gears onsaid shaft respectively meshing with said gearsectors, and drive means extending from said shaft for drivinglyconnecting the latter to a crane power plant.

2. In a power operated crane having a crane body, an elongated foldableboom pivotally connected at one end to the crane body and including atleast two lengthwise sections pivotally connected together at theiradjoining ends, power operated means carried by said sections at theiradjoining ends to move said sections relative to each other between afolded position in which they are relatively superimposed and anextended position in which they are in end to end relationship, andmeans carried by said boom sections at-their adjoining ends forreleasably locking said sections together in end to end relationship,said power` operated means comprising gears mounted on said sectionsnear their adjoining ends With the gears on one section meshing with thegears on the other section, and drive means connected to the gears onone of said sections for folding and unfolding said sectionsrelative toeach other.

3. In a power operated crane having a crane body, an elongated foldableboom including three sections the iirst of which is pivotally connectedat one end to the crane body, the second of which is pivotally connectedat one end to the other end of ksaid first section at the upper side ofthe latter, and the third of which is pivotally connected at one end tothe other end of said second section at the lower side of said thirdsection so that when said boom is folded said second section will besuperimposed on said rst section and said third section will besuperimposed on said second section, first boom folding means connectedbetween said first and second sections, power operated means `drivinglyconnected to said first boom folding means, second boom folding meansconnected between said second and third sections, and means drivinglyoonnecting said first boom folding means to said second boom foldingmeans.

4. In a power operated crane having a crane body, an elongated foldableboom including three sections the first of which is pivotally connectedat one end to the crane body, the second of which is pivotally connectedat one end tov the other endof said first section and the third of whichis pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said secondsection so that said sections will be relatively superimposed when saidboom is folded,

.;1rs't and second sections, powernperated means 4drvingly connected tosaid lIrst boom folding means, second boom folding means connectedbetween said second and third sections, and means drivngly connectingsaid' first boomfoldf ling means to said second boom folding means.

BERTON M. MATI-HAS.

REFERENCES CITED 1 The `following lreferences are Aof record-in theVfiile of this patent;` 1 Y i y UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number I I 'NameDatev De Vo'w Sept. 29, 1903 Terry Apr. 28, 1908 Forsythe et a1 Aug.1,1933 Wagner etl a1 Aug. 21, 1945 Borsin May 6, 1947

